June 50,000 Challenge!
Fellow BillionGravers,
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June Win the Pin Contest
Every user that makes it onto the leaderboard this month will get the Collectors BillionGraves June Pin! Watch the leaderboard throughout the month to make sure you are a part of the lucky 50 photographers and transcribers who get this collectors pin!
As always, the greatest reward for your efforts comes from knowing that you are preserving invaluable genealogical records as well as making them readily available for family members to locate. PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE follow all the guidelines for taking the “PERFECT” picture! Need a refresher? Read this great article about the 7 ways to become the photographer that every genealogists loves!
However, we’ve got a little something that might help get you outside and into the cemeteries with your smartphones (Download the iOS App HERE, Download the Android App HERE)
Due to the overwhelming demand from our users and with the weather as beautiful (and hot) as it is, we’ve decided to continue our 50,000 Challenge to everyone in the BillionGraves community for the month of June.
Simply upload 50,000 photos or 50,000 transcriptions and we’ll give you a brand spankin’ new 16GB Apple iPad Mini WiFi with available 4G-LTE. That’s right, we’ve lowered the number of transcriptions this month to 50,000! There are no limitations on the number of iPad mini’s that a registered user can earn!
A SPECIAL NOTE FROM BILLIONGRAVES:
Taking 50,000 photos and transcribing 50,000 records is no small feat! Only a small handful of people have ever achieved it, and they did it for free! This time, we want to show our users, who really go the extra mile, our gratitude! We know not everyone will be able to reach 50,000. It wouldn’t such an accomplishment if it were easy!
We want to give an iPad away to everyone!! Unfortunately, BillionGraves is a FREE site and we want to keep it that way! Remember, our goal is to document the world’s cemeteries and make it available to anyone and everyone for FREE!
We like to spice things up and give back as we can and will continue to do prizes and giveaways as we can! So for anyone who wants to step up and be apart of a very small elite group of volunteers, this month’s prize is just for you!
| Editorial Note: The average number of photos/hour is based on stats generated from the entire BillionGraves user-base and does not reflect the minimum or maximum number of photos that can be taken in one hour.
Several variables that will impact the number of records that can be collected in any given amount of time:
For instance, photographing flat headstones is much easier and quicker than upright or other monuments. Military cemeteries are ideal as they are usually quite large, similar shaped headstones, and perfectly aligned. So make the most out of June and find cemeteries that will help you reach your goals! |
Other Helpful Tips
• Register! It’s 100% free and 100% necessary if you’re going to participate in this competition.
• Like us on Facebook! It’s simple to do and keeps you constantly up to date will all the new amazing things we are doing at BG!
• Make sure that you have the latest BillionGraves app. Check the iTunes App Store or Google Play for any updates for your device.
• Make it a habit. Go to the cemetery regularly—incorporate a local cemetery into your daily walk or bike ride, and snap some pictures along the way.
• Contest begins June 1, 2014 and ends June 30, 2014 @ 12:00 am GMT (That’s 6 pm MST)
| A great way to reach your goal is to grab your friends and head out to the cemetery as a group!
If everyone in the group logs their different devices into one account, your efforts will be combined, making it easier to hit your goal! Once you hit the 50,000 photo goal or 50,000 transcription goal, switch it up and combine efforts under another person in the group and earn multiple devices! Note: Only one prize will be given per username, and will be shipped to the username the efforts are performed under. |
The Fine Print. (Cause we have to have fine print, right?)
- All photos and transcriptions must be submitted before the closing date of June 30, 2014 @ 12:00 am GMT (That’s 6 pm MST). Any submissions after that point will be excluded from the final results.
- This promotion is intended for photographers and transcribers. Let’s go outside!
- Supporting records will NOT be counted towards the monthly totals. Only images that originate from the genuine BillionGraves apps will be accepted.
- If you or another user marks a headstone picture as “bad” we deduct it from the uploader’s total images.
- For transcribers, we will be looking extra hard at the quality of transcriptions as well. We will erase the record and have it re-transcribed if it’s not done correctly. Any record not transcribed correctly will be deducted from your total.
- In the off chance that we don’t have enough images to transcribe, GO TAKE PICTURES! We will allow both photos taken and transcriptions completed to count ONLY if there are not enough pictures to transcribe.
- Make sure you have permission and are welcome to take pictures in your local cemetery before doing so. Remember, private cemeteries require permission of the owner before taking any pictures. No one likes a trespasser! Not cool!
- This promotion is open to all to participate for free. Registration is required. (Register HERE. Come on.You know you want to. It’s free!)
- More than one individual may contribute to a single account, however, the limit is one prize redemption per BillionGraves account. The prize will be claimed by only the username the combined work was completed under. BillionGraves will not arbitrate any disputes. ALL RECORDS MUST BE UNDER ONE ACCOUNT. BILLIONGRAVES WILL NOT COMBINE ACCOUNTS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.
- Items will ship in 6-8 weeks after contest closes for winners in the U.S. Please allow 8-12 for winners outside the U.S. However, our shipment robots are getting faster!
- Due to current world-unrest, some areas may increase the amount of time it takes for prizes to be delivered. If for some reason your country isn’t compatible with iPad Mini, we will work with you to provide you with a prize that is equal in value.
- Recipients will be required to provide a mailing address for physical items.
- Winners will be required to provided completed tax forms for redemption of the prize
- REQUIRED: ALL PRIZES MUST BE CLAIMED WITH PROPER MAILING/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS BY THE 15TH OF JUNE OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE PRIZE! WE WILL SEND OUT CONFIRMATION EMAILS BY THE 3RD OF JULY. IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL ASKING FOR YOUR ADDRESS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING IT TO US BY THE 15TH AT SUPPORT@BILLIONGRAVES.COM.
Good luck this month! Be sure to keep your eyes on our social media for tips and exclusive offers on the promotion! FACEBOOK – INSTAGRAM
-The BillionGraves Team
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1.6 Million More in May – 2014 Results!
More like 1.6 Million More in May!
The final results are in and the numbers speak for themselves! 938,743 photos were taken, 718,421 records were transcribed(with an additional 446,000 images waiting to be transcribed)! With over 18,000 new BillionGraves users! In total volunteers made over 1,657,164 contributions during the month of May!
What an incredible feat! Considering last May(2013) we grew from 377,123 photos, 316,386 transcriptions, and 2,856 new users. That is INCREDIBLE! THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AROUND THE WORLD FOR YOUR COUNTLESS HOURS VOLUNTEERING! We couldn’t do it without you!
A special congratulations to: Nancy Alford, Melyssawebb, jodie1, Paulwuzhere, and William, for uploading more than 50,000 photos and earning your very own iPad Mini! Thank you for going the extra mile and achieving such an incredible goal!
Also a special thank you to the top 50 photographers and transcribers who have won our collectors Win the Pin for May!
There are many more prizes and features coming in June! Like us on Facebook and Instagram now for real-time updates and exclusive promos!
Winners: An email will be sent to your BG email by June 5, 2014 with instructions to claim your prize. A 2nd email with instructions will be sent to iPad Mini winners. Please complete both forms for redemption of prizes.
Only 2 Days Left in Million More in May
Million More in May – Only 2 Days Left
We are down to the last two days for the Million More in May and Mini iPad promo! Already we have had more than 851,547 pictures uploaded and 680,643 records transcribed! INCREDIBLE! Thank you to all who have participated this far.
With only 2 short days left, we only need 150,000 photos to reach our goal of 1 million records! With We still have plenty of iPad Mini’s to give away as well, so for those of you close to hitting 50,000 photos don’t miss your chance to earn your own and help millions of people around the world connect with their family!
Where do you stand on the leaderboard? Check out HERE
We need all of your help to reach our goal! Even the smallest contributions by our hundred thousands users will help us reach our goal. Whether it’s 10, or 10,000 photos, only working together can we will hit our goal.
So grab your smart phone and start planning your weekend trip to the cemetery!
REMEMBER ALL PHOTOS MUST BE UPLOADED BY 6PM MST (00:00 GMT) IN ORDER TO COUNT FOR THIS MONTH’S TOTALS!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook -> HERE
Read MoreMillion More in May – Final Week
Million More in May – Final Week
We are down to the final week for the Million More in May and Mini iPad promo! Already we have had more than 790,174 pictures uploaded and 630,122 records transcribed! INCREDIBLE! Thank you to all who have participated this far.
With only 4 short days left, we need 50,000 records each day to reach our goal of 1 million records! We still have plenty of iPad Mini’s to give away as well, so for those of you close to hitting 50,000 photos don’t miss your chance to earn your own and help millions of people around the world connect with their family!
Where do you stand on the leaderboard? Check out HERE
We need all of your help to reach our goal! Even the smallest contributions by our hundred thousands users will help us reach our goal. Whether it’s 10, or 10,000 photos, only working together can we will hit our goal.
So grab your smart phone and start planning your weekend trip to the cemetery!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook -> HERE
Read MoreMemorial Day – A Time to Remember
Happy Memorial Day from BillionGraves!
Memorial Day is a day for all of us to reflect on the Veterans who sacrificed their lives to give us our freedom, and gave us a day and a place to honor their memory.
At BillionGraves I have had the very unique opportunity to view hundreds of thousands of pictures of servicemen and women who gave their lives in pursuit and protection of Freedom. Each photograph, preserving a single moment in time of the final resting places of those brave men and women who paid the ultimate price in order for us to have the freedoms that we have today.
Today, I encourage us all to look beyond the photos and to remember the lives, legacies and sacrifices that each of these headstones represent. Every one of these pictures represents a story, a family, a legacy that needs to be remembered and honored.
A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it remembers, the men it honors. -President John F. Kennedy
Regardless of where you live, let us never forget the men and women who have served and who will continue to serve each of us around the world in the pursuit and defense of individual liberty.
Today I personally reflect on the close family members who served and sacrificed in order for me to have the freedoms that I have today. I’m eternally grateful to them and the wonderful examples they have been to me throughout my life!
Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day!
-The BillionGraves Team
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